Celebration(Pig Stand #41) circa 1959

(This image has less resolution than the print.)

In a book on the history of American chain restaurants, the Pig Stand #41, (the Calder Pig), is nationally recognized for it's unique "California-style" design. Built in 1941, it still continues in business today.

This particular scene looks in on a young lady's 14th birthday party on March 2, 1959, which also celebrated Texas' 123rd birthday.

They're dancing in the aisles to "Red River Rock" or "Kansas City" or maybe one of the other songs on the charts that week: "16 Candles", "Sea of Love", or "Matilda".

The youngster is riding on a Columbia bicycle which he may have earned by doing yard work or by selling White Cloverene Salve door to door—that is, if he sold ten box cars full!

Notes from the artist:

"Eat a pig sandwich" pulses the red neon sign above the bright Coca-Cola ensign. The Pig Stand #1 was the first Drive-in restaurant in the world built in Dallas in 1921. This painting of Pig Stand #41 is on their menu. It's also been featured in "Reminisce Magazine", "Down Memory Lane" and on Collector CD "tins".

I wanted to feature my first new bicycle, a "middle weight" Columbia. See if you can find the Mad Magazine and the "caped crusader". Collectible Automobile Magazine was very helpful in rendering the classic Gullwing '59 Impala convertible as well as the '57 Dodge and the '53 Buick Skylark. My son Bryan put me at the counter with a cup of coffee.

Other Pig Stand innovations were "curb service" and coining the term "car hop". Kids would take your order by hopping on the running board of your "classic car" ... of course it wasn't a classic then!

Puzzle Sold Out!
Celebration Jigsaw Puzzle is SOLD OUT. Sorry for the inconvenience. Look for puzzles of other paintings coming soon!